Obese couples could be risking health of future children, studies say

Diet and lifestyle during the â€˜pre-conceptionâ€™ period can profoundly affect the childâ€™s development, researchers find

Couples who are obese, as well as those who smoke and drink alcohol, could be risking the health of their future children, say experts who are calling for far more awareness of the effects of modern lifestyles on babies in the womb.

A series of three scientific papers in a leading medical journal spell out the consequences of poor diet and lifestyles for the next generation. They urge schools, GPs and nurses to talk to young people and those who may be planning a family about how to be fitter and healthier before they embark on pregnancy.